Wave 2 hasn't been announced yet. We saw a sneak peak of the Dreadnok pack, but were told that Wave 1 has to sell really well before wave 2 will be given a green light.

So, personally, I'll be looking to get at least two Docs, meaning I'll load up on comic packs myself. Hopefully enough fans will do the same, and we *will* get the second wave. Those Dreadnoks alone are worth it!

Honestly...why Doc? I'm sorry but I don't understand why a lot of Joefans seem to be so infatuated with the figure (perhaps the character too?). What is it about him?

Well, he got a lot of good lines in the cartoon, he was a loveable character in the comics, and he was killed in Marvel #109, meaning he was ignored by Hasbro during the New Sculpt Era... adding in that Lifeline's a red-wearing geek, and no one really likes Stretcher (even tho he's basically Doc with a hat), GIJoe needs a medic, and Doc fits the bill best.

I don't think there's *that* much beyond those factors that makes his desirable. God knows I voted over a dozen times for Billy, because I'd rather a new character that actually contributed to the comic mythos, rather than died for it... but I suspect we'll be getting him soon enough.

What about those of us who do not want the comic packs? Most of them are just repaints anyway.

You're screwed. Seriously, the reason for the Mail-in is to guarantee the sales of the comic packs. Hasbro will use the profits from the no-cost repaints in the first wave to offset the costs of new tooling for the second wave... meaning we'll get brand new figures, and much more involved retooling (like the Dreadnoks) in future waves.

So we're helping assure we get better figures down the line, *and* getting a Doc figure for our troubles. It's a win-win for anyone that participates.

Maybe I will send them all of my 80 VvV battle points & hope they send me one Doc.

Man, they'll be laughing about that one around the watercoolers for years, I'll bet!

Got to say that having to buy 5 comic packs to get Doc irritates me. I personally hate those goofy colors from the comics and I have no need for any of the repaints. The only comic pack figure from wave one that I care anything about is Hawk. But it is pretty much par for the course for Hasbro as far as making us buy a stupid repaint of a figure we dont want to get ONE new figure we DO want. But Doc is one of my top 5 Joes so you know I will bend over and let Hasbro have their way with me...

Wave 2 hasn't been announced yet. We saw a sneak peak of the Dreadnok pack, but were told that Wave 1 has to sell really well before wave 2 will be given a green light.

No, we ARE getting wave 2. Hasbro has even revealed plans for wave 3! It is not practical to "wait for sales" before greenlighting subsequent waves as the lead up and manufacturing times would mean that assuming comic packs are in market in January 2008, sales and the decision process wouldn't get the next wave onto retail shelves until the following fall, which would be a 6-8 month gap on releases.What will likely happen is wave 1 will hit in the post-Christmas resets (January), wave 2 will follow late in the spring (April-ish) and wave 3 may slip in early summer in some markets. Which means we'll have 3 waves (or between 7-9 packs) to choose from.

From what I've seen from the Star Wars sets, I feel reasonably certain most fans of the line will find 5 packs to purchase without too much ire.

We have gotten an update from Hasbro. It turns out that you need to get 6 POP for DOC, not 5 like previously announced. I have updated the Q&A answer. I'm trying to get more specifics about the actual POP's and will keep you updated if I find out more.

We have gotten an update from Hasbro. It turns out that you need to get 6 POP for DOC, not 5 like previously announced. I have updated the Q&A answer. I'm trying to get more specifics about the actual POP's and will keep you updated if I find out more.

To me, that sounds like each comic pack will have 2 POPs. So, you buy all three of the comic packs from Wave 1 and you get your Doc. That makes much more business sense, to me at least, and would be consistent with the Vintage Star Wars offers.

No, we ARE getting wave 2. Hasbro has even revealed plans for wave 3! It is not practical to "wait for sales" before greenlighting subsequent waves as the lead up and manufacturing times would mean that assuming comic packs are in market in January 2008, sales and the decision process wouldn't get the next wave onto retail shelves until the following fall, which would be a 6-8 month gap on releases.

Well, that's very presumptuous. Every toyline's continued existence relies on the strong sales of the wave before. If Wave 1 sits on the racks and doesn't move, stores won't order wave 2, and Hasbro wont produce it. Making the Doc mail-away available by purchase of the 2-packs is the way Hasbro can ensure a dodgy concept (outlandish repaints of previously released characters) will sell through, and allow for continued production.

Yes, they *will* go ahead and begin the production process long before Wave 1 hits shelves. They're just hedging their bets, so they havent wasted all that R&D time on a failed subset.

What will likely happen is wave 1 will hit in the post-Christmas resets (January), wave 2 will follow late in the spring (April-ish) and wave 3 may slip in early summer in some markets. Which means we'll have 3 waves (or between 7-9 packs) to choose from.

Actually, according to the JoeCon Q&A, Hasbro doesn't expect the first wave to hit till April. So we may only barely get a second wave by the time the offer expires. I also wonder about limited quantities. If this is such a popular line, and scalpers think there's money to be had... there may be a shorter window for ordering than the expiration date.

5 PoP from comic-packs is kind of a lot to get man. I wish it was 5 PoP from the single carded figures, or... dare I say it, FLAG POINTS!!!!!

didn't they say that they were going to find a use for our Flag Points?

anyways... with the system they used for Starwars, a lot of people were stealing the PoP certificates and using them... either by taking them from the figures in the store, or buying them and taking the PoP out and returning them. It would be better if they used the barcodes than cerificates.

No, we ARE getting wave 2. Hasbro has even revealed plans for wave 3! It is not practical to "wait for sales" before greenlighting subsequent waves as the lead up and manufacturing times would mean that assuming comic packs are in market in January 2008, sales and the decision process wouldn't get the next wave onto retail shelves until the following fall, which would be a 6-8 month gap on releases.

Well, that's very presumptuous. Every toyline's continued existence relies on the strong sales of the wave before. If Wave 1 sits on the racks and doesn't move, stores won't order wave 2, and Hasbro wont produce it. Making the Doc mail-away available by purchase of the 2-packs is the way Hasbro can ensure a dodgy concept (outlandish repaints of previously released characters) will sell through, and allow for continued production.

Yes, they *will* go ahead and begin the production process long before Wave 1 hits shelves. They're just hedging their bets, so they havent wasted all that R&D time on a failed subset.

What will likely happen is wave 1 will hit in the post-Christmas resets (January), wave 2 will follow late in the spring (April-ish) and wave 3 may slip in early summer in some markets. Which means we'll have 3 waves (or between 7-9 packs) to choose from.

Actually, according to the JoeCon Q&A, Hasbro doesn't expect the first wave to hit till April. So we may only barely get a second wave by the time the offer expires. I also wonder about limited quantities. If this is such a popular line, and scalpers think there's money to be had... there may be a shorter window for ordering than the expiration date.

Of COURSE future sales are dictated, in part, by prior sales. But that's IN PART. That isn't the only factor. The Dreadnok pack is in wave 2 and obviously ready to go. Will we see it? I believe we will, even if the first wave is lackluster. I believe, if the possiblity of future waves were solely dictated on current waves, they wouldn't do "pure repaints" of characters, especially given this is geared more towards collectors.

Something I think your overlooking in what he said is that it takes a significant amount of time to prep the next waves of figures. It isn't like they look at wave 1 comic packs, decide they are selling well, THEN start the next wave. No. They have wave 2 (and maybe even wave 3) at SOME stage of readiness (and based on the Dreadnok pics, we have an idea of what that is).

Sure, that could end up like VvV wave 4. But don't forget Hasbro DID allow the wave to MasterCollector. It doesn't seem to logical (but then, what do *I* know) to have those figures at that level of "readiness" and not use them.

5 PoP from comic-packs is kind of a lot to get man. I wish it was 5 PoP from the single carded figures, or... dare I say it, FLAG POINTS!!!!!

didn't they say that they were going to find a use for our Flag Points?

anyways... with the system they used for Starwars, a lot of people were stealing the PoP certificates and using them... either by taking them from the figures in the store, or buying them and taking the PoP out and returning them. It would be better if they used the barcodes than cerificates.

Anyone see the irony?

Yep it is amazing they didn't learn the first time. I guess since no one was stealing them the 2nd time around for the free cool coin. They thought it would be alright for G.I. Joe. I await the angry posts complaining that their comic packs had no PoPs.

Yes, they *will* go ahead and begin the production process long before Wave 1 hits shelves. They're just hedging their bets, so they havent wasted all that R&D time on a failed subset.

It isn't like they look at wave 1 comic packs, decide they are selling well, THEN start the next wave. No.

Dude, I *just* said that. My point is, they're throwing out a quick and easy Wave 1, then using the sales from that wave to offset the costs of new tooling in Wave 2. It's not as linear as you're making it, it's all in the accounting. It's not like Hasbro literally sits there and waits for money to come in, then pulls a lever, and Wave 2 starts production. I know that, you know that.

But if there *are* no sales on Wave 1 (IE, pegwarmers), Hasbro will take a hit fromA) No orders for Wave 2, which they've already sunk money into.B ) No sales from Wave 1 to offset that money they've already sunk into Wave 2

So Wave 1 pegwarming could be a tremendous loss for Hasbro, thus the Mail-Away failsafe. If every fan who wants Doc is forced to buy 2 sets of Wave 1, then possibly a third for MOC collectors, that's practically taking care of minimum acceptable sales right there.

Sure, that could end up like VvV wave 4. But don't forget Hasbro DID allow the wave to MasterCollector. It doesn't seem to logical (but then, what do *I* know) to have those figures at that level of "readiness" and not use them.

You do know your example proves my point, and not yours, right? Hasbro went all the way with DTC Wave 4, and took a loss on all that R&D time. Just because The Collector's Club is producing them now doesn't mean Hasbro's recouping all their expenses on designing, and tooling a line that never went to mass market. And unless Hasbro's getting a cut of the sales, they're making profits on that set that are equal to a repaint (IE, just the fees to license the molds).

So no, there's no bright side to the situation with Wave 4 as far as Hasbro's concerned. And there's no way Hasbro would go ahead with Comic Pack Wave 2 without doing everything possible to assure it *doesn't* end up like DTC Wave 4.

What will likely happen is wave 1 will hit in the post-Christmas resets (January), wave 2 will follow late in the spring (April-ish) and wave 3 may slip in early summer in some markets. Which means we'll have 3 waves (or between 7-9 packs) to choose from.

Actually, according to the JoeCon Q&A, Hasbro doesn't expect the first wave to hit till April. So we may only barely get a second wave by the time the offer expires. I also wonder about limited quantities. If this is such a popular line, and scalpers think there's money to be had... there may be a shorter window for ordering than the expiration date.

The most recent Q&A from Joecustoms asked the very question, and Hasbro's response was "January 08"http://wiki.joecusto...iki/Hasbro_QA_4Furthermore, the in package samples at Joecon and from overseas fans (Bigduke at Hisstank) supports that the line is basically ready to go at retail.

In regards to whether or not we'll get wave 2 and Hasbro "hedging their bets", Hasbro knows the risks, they loose millions EVERY YEAR on cancelled toylines and products. Hasbro probably lost a LOT more on the cancelled Robot Rebellion assortments than they did on DTC wave 4. It's a fact of business, as are measured risks. In light of the strong sales and retailer response to 25th, I view it as certain we will get wave 2 and even wave 3 (and likely more). I see no solid evidence outside of fan displeasure in the color selections in these not selling, or at least being ordered in number by retailers.